Ventus Ha' makes mangroves the main attraction

Prepping for winter requires serious effort. By the time autumn falls brisk and wet, tree squirrels are already hard at work hoarding and hiding the nuts and seeds they’ll need to sustain themselves through the coldest months. Moles are busying themselves capturing and immobilizing earthworms in underground dungeons. And acorn woodpeckers are drilling and storing up to 50,000 acorns in the dead limbs of “granary trees.”

View of Los Muertos Pier in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. (Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger)

The holiday season is underway and while Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday may be over, there are still plenty of awesome deals to score this December.

Chef Lawrence H. Abrams brings robust experience including classical French and Cajun cuisine to The St. Regis Deer Valley’s culinary teams.

The second London SELECT Marketplace at the Rosewood Hotel – brought over 80 of the top-producing advisors from across the relevant UK business units to meet with key partners and suppliers.

It's a new, or neo, day for United.

In November, 2023, Time Out magazine named Mexico City as the #1 city in the world for culture. In the 1990s and early 2000s Mexico City, was known for smog, sprawl, and street crime, and was not usually near the top of the list of cities most international tourists wanted to visit. But, over the last ten to fifteen years, local government officials and private sector entrepreneurs have worked to spark a new wave of urban renewal and transformed the way Mexico City is seen around the world. In 2016, The New York Times listed Mexico City as its number one recommended destination to visit. While urban planners, architects, and police have all played big roles in Mexico City’s evolution, a new group of globally renowned chefs has also helped catalyze Mexico City’s transformation, and also helped boost Mexico’s soft power by elevating Mexico’s gastronomy to be more universally regarded as one of the most complex and tasty cuisines on the planet.

The travel and tourism industry has been busy the past few years acknowledging and coming to terms with the worsening effects of climate change and the environmental destruction that’s being laid bare the world over. From dramatic biodiversity loss to the scourge of plastic pollution, the planet is grappling with a long list of daunting challenges.Addressing these issues, as more than a few industry conversations have made clear, will take participation at every level—from the destination managers to the corporate offices of travel brands down to suppliers, transportation companies, and travel agents.But there’s yet another key player in the industry who also has a vital role to play in advancing sustainable travel and the proactive protection of the planet, as well. And these individuals are on the front lines of travel every day: Tour guides. Often overlooked in conversations surrounding the industry-wide transformation that needs to take place, tour guides are an essential part of realizing a better future.“Tour guides, through their direct interactions with tourists, have the power to influence behaviors and shape the tourism experience,” says Brian Raffio, senior adventure travel consultant for the travel company Climbing Kilimanjaro. “By embracing their role as ambassadors and change-makers, they can contribute significantly to the shift towards a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry.”Indeed, a tour guide’s actions, practices, and interactions with tourists can significantly impact the environmental, social, and economic well-being of a destination and ultimately the planet and its people.The good news is that many travel stakeholders have already been thinking about the increasingly important role that tour guides play. Including the tour guides themselves.TravelPulse talked with individuals from every level of travel and tourism about the role of tour guides as the industry attempts to shift toward more sustainable business models that will better protect nature, wildlife, and local communities for generations to come. Here are outtakes from those conversations and tips from these same individuals about how tour guides can actively advance sustainability and environmental stewardship on a daily basis.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly flight down south—you’re in luck. Southwest Airlines has announced it will be expanding its international flight schedule by next summer—with new routes flying to Mexico, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos, and more.

Fiona Khuong-Huu, 16, is a pre-college student at The Julliard School and a guest artist and violinist who is part of the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts. The series is geared for children ages six and older and is a fantastic, fun way to introduce a younger generation to the world of classical music.

All INSTO members are committed to assessing the impact of tourism in 11 mandatory areas spanning economic, environmental and socio-economic dimensions. This commitment aligns with the new Measuring Sustainable Tourism (MST) framework UNWTO is developing, which goes beyond broad indicators such as GDP.

While the Caribbean is teeming with picturesque islands, few destinations can match the beauty of Puerto Rico. From the scenic shores of Rincon to the bioluminescent waters of Fajardo, this dazzling island has earned worldwide acclaim for its lush landscapes and pristine beaches—and as an added bonus, all of this abundant natural beauty has ushered in a wealth of world-class accommodations over the years, with the Condado Vanderbilt serving as one of the most lavish hotels to grace the grounds of San Juan.